Bishops and 'Rock Gods' united by climate chaos

Bishops and 'Rock Gods' united by climate chaos

The countdown to the 'I Count' climate change rally has begun and organisers claim it could be the ëcoolestí event this year.

Trafalgar Square, London, UK is set to be colonised this Saturday by thousands who are attending the free event on the eve of global climate change talks in Nairobi.

The protesters will be demanding that the UK Government negotiate an international deal to keep global warming to less than 2 degrees centigrade and introduce a climate change bill into the Queens speech that delivers annual cuts in UK carbon dioxide emissions.

The event is set to be a diverse gathering with comedians, rock and pop stars sharing a platform with bishops and aid agency executives.

Commenting on the diversity of the event Ashok Sinha, director of Stop Climate Chaos said: "It will be an unprecedented day to send a clear and resounding message to Government that we want them to do all they can to stop climate chaos."

The organisers, Stop Climate Chaos, have also announced the very high profile support from UK band Razorlight, who will be playing a short set at the protest.

Other, more critically acclaimed, musicians have also backed the actions of I Count. Thom Yorke of Radiohead have his support because he was "part of the last generation which can solve the biggest problem that the human race has ever had to face. If we don't then our time is up."

Other High profile protesters will be the Scottish soft rocker KT Tunstall, television light entertainer and stand up comedian Simon Amstell, Right Reverend James Jones the Bishop of Liverpool, TV historian Adam Hart Davis.

Joining them will also be The Bishop of London Richard Chartres. The Bishopís contribution to the protest will start with a sermon at a ëService of Challenge, Commitment and Blessingí at Grosvenor Chapel, 24 Audley Street, London. There will then be a rally in Grosvenor Square after which the bishop will lead the congregation to the main event in Trafalgar Square, where he will address the crowds.

The protest comes after the much publicized Stern Report which calculated the potential cost of climate change. The Bishop suggested that economic reports like the one complied by Lord Stern present the world with a situation where it is "no longer possible to find excuses for doing nothing."

"It is not enough to point the finger of blame at others and to demand that somebody else should do something. Now is the time for individual and collective action in adapting to the reality of climate change and the unsustainable way in which we are exploiting the earthís resources."

In the same statement the Bishop rearticulated his theological imperative to act on climate change. "We are not masters and possessors of the earth but tenants and stewards. Together we have a responsibility to God, to future generations and our own well being on this earth to take action" he said.

Stop Climate Chaos is a network of activist groups and aid agencies, many of which are faith based[2]. Ekklesia has monitored and reported on the networks actions since it launch earlier this year.

The protest takes place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday November 4th 1 ñ 3pm. If you wish to register but cannot make the rally you can do so by signing up online[3] or by texting ëI Countí to 84424

The countdown to the 'I Count' climate change rally has begun and organisers claim it could be the ëcoolestí event this year.

The countdown to the 'I Count' climate change rally has begun and organisers claim it could be the ëcoolestí event this year.

Trafalgar Square, London, UK is set to be colonised this Saturday by thousands who are attending the free event on the eve of global climate change talks in Nairobi.

The protesters will be demanding that the UK Government negotiate an international deal to keep global warming to less than 2 degrees centigrade and introduce a climate change bill into the Queens speech that delivers annual cuts in UK carbon dioxide emissions.

The event is set to be a diverse gathering with comedians, rock and pop stars sharing a platform with bishops and aid agency executives.

Commenting on the diversity of the event Ashok Sinha, director of Stop Climate Chaos said: "It will be an unprecedented day to send a clear and resounding message to Government that we want them to do all they can to stop climate chaos."

The organisers, Stop Climate Chaos, have also announced the very high profile support from UK band Razorlight, who will be playing a short set at the protest.

Other, more critically acclaimed, musicians have also backed the actions of I Count. Thom Yorke of Radiohead have his support because he was "part of the last generation which can solve the biggest problem that the human race has ever had to face. If we don't then our time is up."

Other High profile protesters will be the Scottish soft rocker KT Tunstall, television light entertainer and stand up comedian Simon Amstell, Right Reverend James Jones the Bishop of Liverpool, TV historian Adam Hart Davis.

Joining them will also be The Bishop of London Richard Chartres. The Bishopís contribution to the protest will start with a sermon at a ëService of Challenge, Commitment and Blessingí at Grosvenor Chapel, 24 Audley Street, London. There will then be a rally in Grosvenor Square after which the bishop will lead the congregation to the main event in Trafalgar Square, where he will address the crowds.

The protest comes after the much publicized Stern Report which calculated the potential cost of climate change. The Bishop suggested that economic reports like the one complied by Lord Stern present the world with a situation where it is "no longer possible to find excuses for doing nothing."

"It is not enough to point the finger of blame at others and to demand that somebody else should do something. Now is the time for individual and collective action in adapting to the reality of climate change and the unsustainable way in which we are exploiting the earthís resources."

In the same statement the Bishop rearticulated his theological imperative to act on climate change. "We are not masters and possessors of the earth but tenants and stewards. Together we have a responsibility to God, to future generations and our own well being on this earth to take action" he said.

Stop Climate Chaos is a network of activist groups and aid agencies, many of which are faith based[2]. Ekklesia has monitored and reported on the networks actions since it launch earlier this year.

The protest takes place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday November 4th 1 ñ 3pm. If you wish to register but cannot make the rally you can do so by signing up online[3] or by texting ëI Countí to 84424

Although the views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia, the article may reflect Ekklesia's values. If you use Ekklesia's news briefings please consider making a donation to sponsor Ekklesia's work here[4].